Local Real Estate and Community News

March 6, 2023

Purchasing a Home in a College Community: Pros and Cons In 2023?

Is Buying a House in a College Town a Good Investment Opportunity for You?

Purchasing real estate in a community with a university might be a wise financial move. Rental properties in the vicinity of a university tend to be in high demand, and the vacancy rate is typically lower than in other parts of town. Yet, there are a few drawbacks to think about before making a real estate investment in a college town.


A Huge Selection of Potential Residents

Owning rental property in a college town has many advantages, including a constant stream of potential tenants. You won't have any trouble renting out your home because there is a constant demand for off-campus housing among college students. In addition, there are always fresh students moving to town, so you can rest assured that your rental property will never sit empty for long. Rates that don't change The rents for rental properties in college towns are also very stable, which is another benefit of owning one. This is because people always want to live off campus, no matter what the economy is like.


Entertainment Is Easy to Get to

When you own a rental property near a college, you can also keep your tenants entertained all the time. In college towns, you can usually walk to a lot of bars and restaurants from the university or college campus. This means that your tenants will never be bored or have trouble finding something to do on the weekends or in their free time. Parents usually pay the rent. The biggest benefit of owning a rental property in a college town is that parents often help their children pay rent. This is because they know how expensive it is to live near colleges and universities. So, they are often willing to help their children financially by paying some or all of their rent each month.

AND THE CONS

Higher Upkeep Cost

If you have a rental property in a college town, it's likely that your tenants will be students. And any parent of a college student knows that they aren't always the most responsible when it comes to taking care of property. This can cause maintenance and repair costs to be higher than usual. More expensive maintenance It's likely that your student tenants will be the main draw for your investment property if it's located in a university town. Any parent can attest to the fact that their college student offspring aren't always the most careful stewards of the household's possessions. As a result, you may have to spend more money than usual on upkeep and repairs.

Possible Vacancies During The Summer Months

The final negative of investing in real estate in a college town is the possibility of vacancy during the summer months while students are away. A loss of rental income is possible, or you may need to cut your prices to attract new tenants. Students usually only sign leases for one academic year, so you'll have to be willing to accept shorter leases than you would with regular tenants. This means that your rental income may be less consistent from month to month, making it more challenging to meet your mortgage or other investment property-related financial obligations.

Conclusion 

While there are some potential downsides to owning an investment property in a college town, there are also many upsides that make it a worthy investment opportunity for those who are willing to take on the risk. If you do your research and work with a reputable property management company, you can minimize the potential risks and maximize your chances for success as a landlord in a college town!

SEARCH FOR HOMES HERE

 

Posted in Buying a Home
Feb. 21, 2023

What is the average price of a home In Orting 2023

STEPS TO PURCHASING YOUR ORTING HOME:

Establish your budget: You should decide how much you can spend before you begin looking for a home.
You can do this by obtaining pre-approval for a mortgage or by calculating your projected monthly payments using a mortgage calculator.

Locate a real estate agent: An agent can assist you in locating properties that fit your criteria and will provide you with guidance throughout the purchasing process. I am here to assist you, and enjoy hearing your story so I can make this process as stress free as possible.

Start looking for properties: To get an idea of what is available, drive about areas, attend open houses, and conduct an online search for homes. Create a list of the homes you are interested in, either save here on my site or shoot them my way.

Submit a a strong offer: You must submit a offer to the seller of a home you desire.
I can assist you in selecting a reasonable offer price based on the neighborhood market and comparable sales. Creating a strong offer, and back up documentation to accompany your offer.

If your offer is accepted, you should get a home inspection to make sure the property doesn't have any significant issues.
If problems are discovered, you might be able to bargain with the seller to have them fixed and/or have the price reduced, credits or an opportunity to walk away.

Closing on YOUR HOME: In the event that everything is in order, you will have to sign a contract and give a down payment to finalize the transaction. You must appear for the closing at the escrow office, when you will sign all the required documents, then you will receive possession of the home when the county records. I will meet you with keys!!!

Throughout the home-buying process, keep this in mind: take your time, be patient, and collaborate closely with your agent.

Posted in Buying a Home
Feb. 14, 2023

Valentines Day Date Night Ideas

 

Some fun date night ideas for tonight- 👇🏽💌💗
MAIN STREET BISTRO ~ An appetizer of either bruschetta or avoschetta, two pizzas of your choice, two cupcakes and either a bottle of wine or two cocktails.
COLE STREET BREWERY ~ V-Day dinner from THE Original NW BBQ Company to help fundraise for their journey to the World Steak Championships
WICKED PIE PIZZA ~ Valentine's Day w/Jim Meck Live!
LOS PINOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT ~ Local & Yummy!
THE SCOOP ON MAIN ~ You're the coolest friend - Valentine's Party
BORDEAUX WINE BAR ~ Pairing some amazing wines from @northcoastwinecompany and some tasty treats!!
ROUTE 66 PIZZA ~ Dine in, delivery or carry out for a heart shaped pizza and a delicious chocolate Lahar cake for $19.99!
MILL HAUS CIDER CO. ~ Chef David’s amazing Valentine’s Day dinner menu this evening starting at 5pm!
TIM'S KITCHEN ~ Tim is cookin’ LOBSTER! Tim’s Valentine's dinner special is 6oz. Lobster Tail with your choice of tender 6oz. sirloin steak or 6oz. slow roasted prime rib! (ready at 4p) This surf and turf favorite is served with your selection of 2 sides & toasted garlic bread. Dinner for two is just $75 and includes a complimentary dessert to share!

 

Posted in Community News
Jan. 24, 2023

Key Terms When Buying a Home part 2

Home Buying Process!

Appraisal A report highlighting the estimated value of the property completed by qualified third party. Lenders rely on appraisals to validate a home's value and ensure they're not lending more than the home is worth.

Closing Costs The fees required to complete the real estate transaction. Paid at closing. Ask your lender for a complete list of closing cost items, including points, taxes, title insurance, and more.

Credit Score A number ranging from 300-850 that's based on an analysis of your credit history. This helps lenders determine the likelihood you'll repay future debts.

Down Payment Down payments are typically 3.5-20% of the purchase price of the home. Some 0% down programs are also available. Ask your lender for more information about what you may qualify for.

Mortgage Rate The interest rate you pay to borrow money when buying a home. As mortgage rates fluctuate, consult a lender so you know how it can impact your monthly mortgage payment.

Pre-Approval Letter A letter from a lender that shows what they're willing to lend you for your home loan. This, plus an understanding of your savings, can help you decide on your target price range. I have a great lender that is local and always available. Terri Moss with HER Mortgage

Inspection Contingency A provision in a contract requiring an inspection to be completed. This essential step gives you information on the home's condition and potential repairs.

Affordability A measure of whether someone earns enough to qualify for a loan on a typical home based on the most recent price, income, and mortgage rate data. When home prices and mortgage rates are higher, it can impact affordability.

Equity The value of your home above the total amount of liens against your home. Many homeowners are realizing they have more equity than they thought and they're using it to move.

 

Have questions? I am here to help anytime! The home buying process is overwhelming but very exciting, let me help you!

BE WELL, KRISY CLAYTON

 

Posted in Buying a Home
Jan. 16, 2023

Key Terms When Buying a Home part 1

 

Home-buyer, You do the right thing, contact a lender, find the best realtor for you and start the home search. All of the sudden these key words are being thrown around while you stand there wondering "is this a dumb question, what are my closing costs???"

CLOSING COSTS-

The fees required to complete your real estate transaction paid at closing. Your lender will be able to get you a complete list of closing cost items, which include points, taxes, title insurance and more. Buyer closing costs are usually between 2% to 6% of the home’s purchase price.

Example of closing cost are:

  • Appraisal fee
  • Application fee
  • Credit report and credit supplement fees
  • Mortgage origination fee
  • Lender’s policy title insurance (plus optional owner’s policy title insurance)
  • Closing attorney fee (in some states)
  • Courier fee
  • Bank processing fee
  • Recording fee
  • Notary fee
  • Loan discount points
  • Homeowners association transfer fees
  • Homeowners insurance
  • Property taxes and tax servicing fees (including a prepaid lump sum)
  • Mortgage insurance for down payments worth less than 20% of the purchase price (MIP/PMI)
  • Flood certification fee (in some areas)

You can negotiate as part of your offer the seller paying a portion of your closing costs, depending on the market at that time.

 

There I go throwing around more key words, never fear I will be explaining these terms next....

Be well, have a wonderful day!

 

Posted in Buying a Home
Jan. 12, 2023

What is going on this weekend 1/12/23

Hello all, there is quite a bit going on around own this weekend! I have added the links so the events are easy to find.

Have fun out there and Be Well!

ORTING L&M FIREHOUSE

ORTING KIDS PLACE

WA.STATE FAIRGROUNDS

PEAK GYMNASTICS

COCKRELL HARD CIDER

COUNTRY GIRL GREENHOUSE

 

Posted in Community News
Dec. 1, 2022

What is going on this weekend!

Here is what is going on this weekend around town, I hope you have a great start to your December. I love to see all the holiday lights going up, here in Orting it snowed so the kiddos are out of school playing in the snow...laughter and fun, I love it!

Be Well All!!!

 

 

Posted in Community News
July 31, 2017

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Curious about local real estate? So are we! Every month we review trends in our real estate market and consider the number of homes on the market in each price tier, the amount of time particular homes have been listed for sale, specific neighborhood trends, the median price and square footage of each home sold and so much more. We’d love to invite you to do the same!

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We can definitely fill you in on details that are not listed on the report and help you determine the best home for you. If you are wondering if now is the time to sell, please try out our INSTANT home value tool. You’ll get an estimate on the value of your property in today’s market. Either way, we hope to hear from you soon as you get to know our neighborhoods and local real estate market better.

Posted in Market Updates